Tray for displaying and protecting frangible foods

ABSTRACT

A one-piece tray for displaying and packaging candy and the like in boxes. It is formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material and has cups of various configurations for receiving candy and the like. The cups are separated from each other by upstanding hollow ribs, and the tray has a vertical flange extending around the periphery thereof. In accordance with the present invention, a vertically extending flange carries a plurality of resilient, outwardly extending spaced projections of the resilient rigid thermoplastic material. When the tray is inserted in the box, the projections are flexed downwardly or upwardly against the sides of the box, exerting a transverse spring effect that stabilizes the tray in the box to absorb energy and prevent shaking of loose fitting trays against the sides of the box.

- United States Patent Ql Z /I964 Weiss [72] Inventor Hugh R. WeissMontclair, N.J.; c/o The Pantasote Company of New York, Inc. 26Jefferson Street Passaic, NJ. 07055 [2]] Appl. No. 820,465

[22] Filed Apr. 30, 1969 [45] Patented Feb.23, 1971 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-David M. BockenekAttorneyMedert and Te Grotenhuis ABSTRACT: A one-piece tray fordisplaying and packaging candy and the like in boxes. It is formed froma sheet of thermoplastic material and has cups of various configurationsfor receiving candy and the like. The cups are separated from each otherby upstanding hollow ribs, and the tray has a vertical flange extendingaround the periphery thereof. In accordance with the present invention,a vertically extending flange carries a plurality of resilient,outwardly extending spaced projections of the resilient rigidthermoplastic material. When the tray is inserted in the box, theprojections are flexed downwardly or upwardly against the sides of thebox, exerting a transverse spring effect that stabilizes the tray in thebox to absorb energy and prevent shaking of loose fitting trays againstthe sides of the box.

PATENTEDFEBZEBIQYI s 8565321 I ll min \I I {33 FIG. 4

7 V'ENTOR. HUG WE|ISS 22 BY Medal 8 7e ATTORNEYS TRAY FOR DISPLAYING ANDPROTECTING FRANGIBLE FOODS The present invention relates tomulticompartment trays formed from thin sheets of thermoplastic resinousmaterial, particularly to a one-piece molded plastic tray constructed toreceive candy and other frangible articles of different sizes andshapes, and to the combination of said tray and a box proportioned toproperly receive said tray.

Boxes containing suitable one-piece plastic trays, each having aplurality of compartments that contain candy, display layers of candy ina much more attractive manner than do the individual paper cups so oftenheretofore used.

One-piece plastic trays are, however, relatively rigid in the plane ofthe tray and boxes containing them may have a tendency to rattle becauseof relative movement between the tray and the sides of the box. This isparticularly the case unless the tray fits snugly within the box, andsuch a fit frequently does not occur. Such rattling or relative movementbetween the tray and the box not only is undesirable from the standpointof protection of the candy during shipment but gives the purchasers anerroneous impression that the box is improperly filled. Too snug a fitof the tray in the box is also considered undesirable both for properremoval of the trays and because distortion of the cavities and otherportions of the tray may occur, hurting the display.

l have found that the objectionable features of candy boxes containingone-piece trays and also difficulties in having trays improperly matchedto the boxes in which they are disposed may be eliminated by forming onthe trays a plurality of laterally or outwardly extending tabs orprojections spaced from each other and spaced around the periphery ofthe tray. These tabs are of substantially unplasticized vinyl resin,such as rigid unplasticized polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene and thelike. These tabs or projections only when of substantially unplasticized resin or a resin composition, which is at a temperature wellbelow its glass transition temperature, have a tendency to spring backto their original shape when deformed or flexed by the sides of the boxwhen the tray is inserted therein. Trays containing the lateralprojections or tabs of relatively limited extent press against the sidesof the box in a springlike manner. When relative movement of the trayand box occurs, energy is absorbed by friction of the tabs against thesides of the box and by increased flexing of the tabs preventing orreducing the rattling that so often previously occurred.

An object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece plastictray having a plurality of cavities of suitable shape to receive candyand having means for preventing rattling when a box containing a traywith candy therein is lightly shaken sideways.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a onepiecepacking tray for holding candy and similar articles of different sizesand shapes and for displaying the candy and similar articles in anattractive manner when the box is open.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide a one-piecepacking tray for candy that may fit loosely within a box and yet whichdoes not permit the impression that the closed box containing candy isimproperly filled.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a combination of acandy box and a loosely fitting, one-piece plastic tray for displayingcandy therein which combination has less tendency to rattle when shaken.

The above and other objects of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the description and claims and from thedrawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying the present invention;

H6. 2 is a sectional view along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

H6. 3 is a similar sectional view through the combination of tray andbox in which it is confined; and

HG. t is a top plan view of the tray of HO. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, in which like parts areidentified by the same numerals of reference throughout the severalviews, FIGS. l to 4 show a one-piece rectangular tray containingcavities or cups, numbers 1 to 22 inclusive, for receiving candy orother frangible articles therein. Each of the cups, numbers 1 to 22, areseparated from adjacent cups by a rib formed from the verticallyextending and tapered walls of the adjacent cups. The tray may be formedby a vacuum-molding process or matched die-molding process from a sheetof flat thermoplastic material, such as a vinyl resin that is heatedabove its glass transition temperature at the time the tray is fonned.

When the resin is heated above its glass transition temperature, it isrubberlike and may be formed in the desired shape. When the resin iscooled in such deformed shape, it tends to retain that shape until suchtime as it may be again heated above its glass transition temperature.

The materials used to form the trays are preferably an unplasticized orsubstantially unplasticized vinyl resin, including polystyrene,polyvinyl chloride and copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetatewhich have a glass transition temperature above room temperature andpreferably above 40 C. Resins which have been plasticized sufficientlyto lower the glass transition temperature T below 60 C. are undesirableand cannot be used in forming trays of the present invention for thereason that the spring action referred to above is not retained.

The trays shown herein have a plurality of cups, numbers 1 to 22inclusive, of desired sizes and shapes. It may also have groups of thecups separated by suitable dividers or ribs, such as hollow ribs 24, 25,26 and 27 arranged in any desired configuration and extending higherthan the ribs formed by walls of adjacent cups in one group. The ribs 24to 27 inclusive increase the longitudinal stiffness of the trays in theplane of the trays.

Surrounding the entire candy or article-receiving portion of .the trayis a generally vertical flange 30 which is directly connected to and anextension of the outer peripheral walls of the peripheral cups of thetray. The flange 30 extends around the entire periphery of thecandy-receiving portions of the tray and preferably terminates in asmall generally laterally extending rolled portion 31 at the top edgethereof. The cup-shaped portions 1 to 22, inclusive, preferably havewavy partitions 32 which preferably taper outwardly from the base of thecups. Adjacent walls of adjacent'cups meet and are joined together attheir upper edges to form ribs such as rib 29 between adjacent cups of agiven group.

In accordance with the present invention, a plurality of tabs orprojections 33 of limited peripheral extent spaced from each other andalong the periphery of the tray are provided to project laterallyoutwardly from the upper edge portion of the generally verticalperipheral flange 30. The tabs 33 are projected outwardly in asubstantially horizontal direction when formed. They project radiallyoutwardly from the upper peripheral edge of the tray at spaced portionsthereof. When the tray is placed in a suitable candy box, such as a boxhaving a bottom portion 34 and a cover portion 35, the tabs 33 are bentor deflected preferably downwardly into the dotted portion 33a shown inFIG. 2 and in the position shown in H6. 3 so that they bear against theside edges 36 of the bottom of the candy box. Since the tabs are ofresilient unplasticized material and are maintained well above the glasstransition temperature thereof, they continually exert a spring actionagainst the sides of the box, preventing or decreasing tendency forrattle thereof in said box and improving the sales potential ofprefilled boxes of candy. They also exert energy and have a dampingeffect on the relative movement of the tray and the box, decreasingshock that may be transferred to the candy or articles therein.

It is also apparent that in accordance with the provisions of the patentstatutes modifications of the invention may be made without changing thespirit thereof.

l claim:

l. A one-piece tray for displaying and packing candy and the like inboxes, which comprises a candy-receiving portion having a plurality ofcups of desired configurations for receiving the candy or frangiblearticles, each cup being separated from an adjacent cup by upstandinghollow ribbed portions formed from the peripheral walls of the adjacentcups, a generally vertical flange extending around the periphery of thecup portion of the tray and forming the periphery of said tray, saidvertically extending flange carrying adjacent the upper edge thereof aplurality of resilient (outwardly extending) projections spaced thereonand from each other, said projections nonnally extending horizontallyout from said edge of said flange, said tray being entirely formed ofone-piece thermoplastic resinous composition having a glass transitiontemperature greater than 60 C., whereby when said projections are flexeddownwardly or upwardly they exert a transverse

1. A one-piece tray for displaying and packing candy and the like inboxes, which comprises a candy-receiving portion having a plurality ofcups of desired configurations for receiving the candy or frangiblearticles, each cup being separated from an adjacent cup by upstandinghollow ribbed portions formed from the peripheral walls of the adjacentcups, a generally vertical flange extending around the periphery of thecup portion of the tray and forming the periphery of said tray, saidvertically extending flange carrying adjacent the upper edge thereof aplurality of resilient (outwardly extending) projections spaced thereonand from each other, said projections normally extending horizontallyout from said edge of said flange, said tray being entirely formed ofone-piece thermoplastic resinous composition having a glass transitiontemperature greater than 60* C., whereby when said projections areflexed downwardly or upwardly they exert a transverse spring effectagainst the flexing force.
 2. The tray according to claim 1 wherein saidtray is completely made of a substantially unplasticized polyvinylchloride base composition.
 3. The combination of (1) a box having abottom and vertically extending sidewalls, (2) a one-piece trayaccording to claim 1 being disposed in said box, said box and said traybeing proportioned and shaped so that said projections on said tray aremaintained in a deflected position continuously exerting a force inspringlike fashion against the adjacent vertical wall of the said box.